General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) secretary general Wennie Sancho expressed in a press statement the worker’s disappointment and frustration over the denial by Congress of the P200 per day wage increase that it had already approved but was not signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Sancho said the loyal and hard-working workers deserve the increase in compensation which is long overdue. A wage hike would be a token appreciation for their tireless efforts, but this was turned down by Congress, so their pleas fell on deaf ears.
The workers are struggling to make ends meet. But the members of Congress are busy lining their pockets with pork barrel funds. The flood control projects have become a gold mine for them. Congress is guilty of dereliction of duty because it allowed corruption to fester and thrive. To turn a blind eye in the face of such wrongdoing is to be complicit in it. The truth is that Congress is more interested in protecting its own interests than serving the people, the statement said.
The workers are filled with discontentment and betrayal, they feel abandoned, left to fend for themselves while their leaders indulged in corruption. Sancho, however, stressed that the workers would not be silenced, they would not be ignored, they would rise up, demand justice and fight for their rights. The flood control projects would not be forgotten, the workers’ demand for wage increase would not be ignored, they would not rest until Congress listens.
“Our corrupt legislators in Congress used their speech and manifestations as cloak of righteousness but their deeds proved contrary to their statements. The issues on flood control projects has now become an open shame, that is if the politicians concerned can still feel the pinch of shame. Corrupt politicians are suffering from “psychological numbness” whenever criticism are thrown against them. Their suits and barongs are adorned with symbols of authority and might but they are used to concealing corruption and trampling of the workers rights,” the statement said.
If the corruptors continue to survive in Congress, the working class will find it difficult to survive when the members of Congress are composed of actors and political pretenders, Sancho’s statement added.*
